Calvary Life | Page 13

A big part of the MOPS program is having a mentor mom for each small group. These women have survived. They have made it through the hard stage of being a mom with young children. They know how hard marriage can be in the midst of that. They have years of wisdom and experience to share that we are eager to hear. I was blessed with a wonderful mentor mom. She had this to say about joining MOPS, “I became involved as a mentor mom when my youngest daughter graduated from college and moved to California. I did not want to sit around home moping because all my children had grown up and moved out of state. Not every mom who attends MOPS is a believer, so there are often natural opportunities to share the gospel. I especially love the one–on–one times I get to spend with the younger women. Almost every year there have been one or two young women who have sought me out for advice about marriage issues, family issues, financial issues, or other related things. I have learned how to listen, to pray with those who are struggling, and to share the things God has taught me through the years. Sometimes I have been able to point them to others who could better advise and help them.” We, as women, need relationships. We need time together to sit and talk. As a mom with a young child, I’ve realized how incredibly important this is for moms with young children. It can be so hard to find time in the midst of all the laundry, errands, meals, cleaning, pets, family, etc, for us to find time to be ourselves. For two hours, a couple of times a month, MOPS is that for me— time for me to be me. It is a time to go eat some delicious food, have an adult conversation that doesn’t involve the words, “Please don’t put that in your mouth,” laugh and cry at all the craziness in all our lives, be encouraged by a mentor mom, let someone else love my son for a little while, and learn how to be the wife and mom God created me to be. My mentor mom summed it up nicely when she said, “The young women in MOPS show me there is hope for the future. We learn together how to become better moms (and grandmas). The speakers we hear point us to God, and give us help in raising children and grandchildren.” Starry Eyed means looking for the light even when darkness is enveloping. It is an opportunity to hope recklessly and to witness God’s presence guiding things seen and unseen, comfortable and uncomfortable. When we reflect back over our lives, this year is going to stand out. It will be the year that we decided to live fully by both sunlight and moonlight. Because audacity is rising in the deepest and wildest parts of our souls. And the best part is, we will experience it all together. Calvary Meeting first, third, and fifth Tuesdays, beginning September 20, 9:00-11:15am at Ada Bible Church Knapp Campus MOPS is a gathering place for all women who are pregnant or have young children (birth through Kindergarten) that offers connections, community, resources and support. If you would like more information about MOPS or wish to register, visit cal varychurchmops.wordpress.com. If you are interested in becoming a mentor mom, please email [email protected]. 13